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Single Idea 8589

[from 'New work for a theory of universals' by David Lewis, in 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 5. Natural Properties ]

Full Idea

The reason natural properties feature in the contents of our attitudes is that naturalness is part of what it is to feature therein. We aren't built to take a special interest in natural properties, or that we call them natural if they are interesting.

Gist of Idea

For us, a property being natural is just an aspect of its featuring in the contents of our attitudes

Source

David Lewis (New work for a theory of universals [1983], 'Cont of L')

Book Reference

'Properties', ed/tr. Mellor,D.H. /Oliver,A [OUP 1997], p.227


A Reaction

Evolution never features in Lewis's metaphysics. I would have thought we were very much built to focus on natural properties. This sounds odd, and gives no help in distinguishing natural properties from all our other daft contents.